Illuminated handbag latch



May 28, 1946. BERMAN ILLUMINATED HANDBAG LATCH Filed May 21, 1945 I N VEN TOR. Hyman Ber/nan BY ATTORNEYS Patented ay 28, 1946 ILLUMINATED HANDBAG LATCH Hyman Berman, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application May 21,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an illuminated hand bag or similar article. Its principal object is to provide a new and improved hand bag hav: ing illuminating means disposed within the latch member of the clasp.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved hand bag or similar article having simple illuminating means carried by the latch member, the bag in no manner being encumbered or rendered ungraceful by said illumi-. nating means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hand bag which may be used as an ordinary flashlight.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an illuminated hand bag in which the complete illuminating means, including the drycell battery used as a source of (:urrentsupply, are housed within the latch member of the closure fastener device of the bag.

Still another object of the inventionis to provide a hand bag or similar article with illuminating means of simple construction, easy to operate, and which is especially suitable for an envelope type of hand bag.

Other objects of the invention will be set forth in the following description and drawing, which illustrate preferred embodiments thereof, it being understood that the foregoing statements of the objects of the invention are intended generally to explain the same without limiting it in any manner.

Fig. 1 1s a side view of a hand bag of the envelope type having the invention embodied therein, and illustrating the flap in closed latched relation.

Fig. 2 is a front view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 3-3 -of Fig. and illustrating the flap of the hand bag in raised position and the illuminating means in operative position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged and partially sectional view similar to Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. '7 is a side view showing the band bag used as an ordinary flashlight.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the invention applied to a different type of hand bag than the envelope type illustrated in Figs. 1 to '7.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 7 of the drawing, H designates the body of an envelope-type hand bag and F the flap thereof. Flap F is provided 1945, Serial No. 594,825

with an opening adapted to cooperate with the latch or clasp means which is designated generally by the reference letter L.

The latch means L include the base or anchoring plate In which is secured to body H of the hand bag in any suitable manner; and the latch plate H which is spaced from andis pivotally connected to said base plate In by means of anysuitable hinge construction. Secured to latch plate II is the latch member 12. The invention herein centers about the construction of said latch member l2 and the illuminating means associated therewith.

Latch member i2 is formed as an integral unit by molding the same from any suitable plastic, resin or thermoplastic material. It has a rear wall l3, a front wall M, a top wall I5, side walls It and H, and a bottom wall l8. Latch member I2 is formed'with the cylindrical, vertical battery recess H which extends through top wall l and bottom wall It. Removably located within said recess i9 and held therein by frictional fit is the electric dry-cell battery 20. Said battery may be removed from recess 19 through the upper or lower ends thereof.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, rear wall I3 is formed with a small opening 2! adjacent its upper end, said opening 2| communicating with battery recess i9. Opening 21 is adapted to receive the removable small incandescent lamp 22, such as is commonly used in the smaller sizes of flashlights. The socket of lamp 22 with its center contact 23 is located within battery recess I9, and the bulb of said lamp is located externally to said recess. Lamp opening 2| is perpendicular to battery recess l9. Said lamp 22 can be held within opening 2| by frictional fit or by threading the circumferential wall surrounding opening 21 to receive the threaded portion of the socket of lamp 22. It will be noted from Figs. 3 and 5 that the socket of lamp 22 is always in. contact with the center contact 24 of battery 2i].

As clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the upper end of battery recess I9 is closed by the removable turnable switch member 25. The circumferential wall 26 of said switch member 25 is externally threaded to cooperate with the upper threaded portion of the circumferential wall surrounding battery recess i 9. Switch member 25 is provided with the integral finger-hold element 21 which projects from the top wall thereof. By grasping the said finger-hold element 21, switch member 25 may be turned in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.

Depending from the bottom of switch member 25 is the spring arm 28. When said switch member 25 is turned in a clockwise direction, said.

' device being used to illuminate the interior of the hand bag. In this position, the light emanating from the bulb of lamp 22 is directed upon mirror M, thus illuminating the same. If it is desired to use the illuminating device as an ordinary flashlight, the flap F of the hand bag is left in closed latched relation, latch member i2 is swung outwardly, and the hand bag held in the position illustrated in Fig. '7. In this manner and position, the light from lamp 22 can be directed away from the hand bag.

Referring to Fig. 8, this shows essentially the same illuminating device illustrated in Figs. 1 to '7, but associated with a diil'erent type of hand bag than the envelope type heretofore described. The construction and operation of the illuminating device disposed within latch member 30 of Fig. 8 are identical with the illuminated latch member l2 of Figs. 1 to 7.

It is obvious that the invention may be applied to and embodied in other forms of hand bags than the two typesheretoiore described and illustrated in the drawing. The invention herein resides essentially in the illuminated latch member. which can be incorporated in various types and styles oi hand bags.

What is claimed is:

1; An illuminated latch member for a hand ba or like receptacles, said latch member having a cylindrical battery recess formed therein, an electric dry-cell battery element having a center contact and a side contact held in position within said recess, said latch member also having a lamp opening formed therein, said lamp opening communicating with the battery recess, a lamp removably mounted in said lamp opening, the socket of said lamp being always in contact with the center contact of the dry-cell battery element, a turnable switch member closing the upper end of the battery recess, said switch member having a spring arm depending therefrom, said spring arm being adapted to urge the side contact of the dry-cell battery element into and out of contact with the center contact of the lamp when said switch member is turned respectively in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction.

2. An illuminated hand bag latch member having an inner wall facing the interior of the hand bag, a lamp opening formed in said wall, a lamp removably mounted in said lamp opening, said latch member having a vertical battery recess formed therein, said recess communicating with said lamp opening and being perpendicular thereto, an electric dry-cell battery element having a center contact and a lateral contact held in position within said recess, the center contact of said dry-cell battery element being always in contact with the lamp socket, a removable tumable switch member closing the upper end of the battery recess, said switch member having a spring arm depending therefrom, said spring arm being adapted to urge the lateral contact of the dry-cell battery element into and out of engagement with the center contact of the lamp when said switch member is turned respectively in-a clockwise and counterclockwise direction.

HYMAN BERMAN. 

